Sigma

Chapter 7

Clementine woke and peered at the strange ceiling fan spinning above her. She wasn’t in her coffin. Groaning, she rolled over to come nose to nose with a handsome male. Her stomach clenched.

Sam.

Hunger rose, but not for blood. She scowled at him, trying to raise her internal defenses as they crumbled between her mental fingers. Falling for a shifter was a mistake. Her master wouldn’t let her take him back to Pal Robi.

“Morning–uh well, night, I mean.” He grinned and it shattered all her control.

She grabbed his messy hair and pulled him into her embrace, pressing her lips against his. The thin torn t-shirt she wore was the only barrier between them. When it came to Sam she didn’t have any natural resistance. It was like she was trying to screw up her life on purpose.

He flowed over her, pressing her body into the mattress, his mouth opening to let her in. Heat radiated from his body and seeped into her cold, dead one.

She broke the kiss and shoved him off. When she woke, her self-control was at its weakest. Hunger burned her insides. She needed blood to quench this fire, but she’d already ravaged Sam yesterday. What kind of person would he think she was if she did the same thing again? Yesterday, she had an excuse, but not this morning. Damn, only one day and she’d let him under her skin. Her master had to send her somewhere else tonight. She wouldn’t last against Sam’s charm.

“Whoa, did I catch you mid-dream or something?” He raised his hands away from her, genuine confusion on his face.

“Or something.” She sat on the edge of the bed and hugged herself. “I ache. I have to hunt.”

Someone knocked on the bedroom door, sending her onto her feet ready to flee. “We have to share those sheets, so no funny business in there, Sam.” A sharp female voice traveled into their room.

She glanced at Sam and raised her eyebrow.

“My alpha female, Spice. She’s here to help guard Sugar, her twin, and you. I’m the night shift.” He rose to his feet and rummaged through the closet, tossing her some clothes. “Those should fit.” He grabbed some for himself. “Come out when you’re dressed and I’ll introduce you.” Closing the door behind him, he left her alone.

She blew a curl off her forehead. Closing her eyes, she tried to centralize her thoughts, like her master had taught her ages ago, but to no avail. What was she doing? Sam had shaken her. She picked up the clothes. He’d chosen a dress for her to wear–she gave it a weary smile. He liked her. Was that really a bad thing?

After pulling the dress over her head, she went out to meet his alpha female and her twin. She’d sort of met Sugar on the field of battle yesterday. Nothing like making a good first impression, but according to Sam it had been Sugar’s idea to help. She needed to cut the human some slack, especially since Sam accused her of jealousy. No need to prove him right.

The scent of fried meat greeted her entrance. A slim blonde cooked at the stove while Sam hovered around her. She swatted him with the spatula. “It’s not done.”

“I’ll eat it raw.” He pleaded with an empty plate in his hands. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry.” She shooed him away again. “I’ll serve you when it’s all cooked. It won’t be long.” The female regarded her. “Go play host to the vamp.”

“Spice, be nice.” Sam gave Clementine an apologetic grimace.

“What? This is me being nice. I didn’t call her a bloodsucker or a zombie breeder.”

“Spice!” Another female voice, almost the same as the cook’s, shouted from the living room. “Ignore her. She’s not a people person.”

Clementine let Spice’s backhanded insults slide off and followed the other voice. Sam remained in the kitchen waiting for food. She gave him a small smile. He’d been so busy taking care of her yesterday and she hadn’t given his needs a single thought. She was a jerk.

Sugar sat on the couch, her legs propped with pillows, and a book on her lap. “I brought some reading material. Feel free to borrow some.” She pointed to a stack of books on the floor.

“Thanks.” Clementine sat across from her. Sugar appeared frail, where her twin was vibrant. The left side of her face drooped a little and she spoke with a lisp. Sugar was broken. Her master had left his small empire for a mortal on the verge of dying. Was this love?

“Don’t let Spice get to you. She’s hormonal.” With her right hand, she mimicked a big lump over her belly.

Clementine furrowed her eyebrows, not sure what Sugar meant.

“She’s going to have puppies.” Sam entered the living room and settled on the floor by Clementine’s feet. He shoveled eggs and steak into his mouth like he’d never seen food before.

Spice collected Sugar, setting the book aside and assisting her to stand.

“I’m not ready for bed, yet. Clementine just woke. I wanted to talk a little longer.” Sugar frowned at her sister, then gave Clementine a weak smile.

Spice braced her shoulder under Sugar’s arm. They fit well together. “It’s been a long day and I’m tired from the move. The stress from worrying about Eric is just about killing me. Please, can’t we just go to bed?”

“Eric will be fine. Daedalus will watch over him.”

Spice snorted. Apparently, she shared Sam’s opinion of her master.

Clementine shot them both a look. “Where did they go?”

“To do some surveillance on Pal Robi.” Spice helped Sugar walk to the bedroom. “They all went, except us. I don’t like this hiding stuff.”

“You have to keep the babies safe.” Sugar rubbed her sister’s stomach with a possessive hand.

“I know. I know.” She kissed her twin’s cheek. “I’m just grumpy.”

“Hormonal.”

“Whatever.” Spice closed the bedroom door, leaving Clementine alone with Sam.

“Don’t worry. They always squabble like that.” Sam rested his head on her lap and patted his stomach. “That was good.”

Her concern wasn’t with the twins, but with those surveying Pal Robi. She hoped the information she’d given her master was correct. Things were moving so fast and she’d made a habit of existing at a slower pace than mortals. In the last two days she’d experienced more emotion and action than in the last two decades.

Sam rubbed his face on her knee. “I’m going to shower. Want to join me?” He rose and set his dirty dishes in the sink.

She rubbed her sweaty palms on her knees. Did she want to continue existing, or did she want to try living?

Sam hesitated by the bathroom door and glanced at her.

“I’m coming.” She raced into his arms.

Ushering Clementine into the bathroom, Sam locked the door and pegged her with a glare. “About hunting, as long as I’m around, I’d rather you feed from just me.”

“I can’t feed from you every day. You’ll grow weak and die.” She rubbed his biceps and gave them a little squeeze.

Her small hands on his flesh instantly sent the go signal for a hard-on. The flimsy dress he’d chosen for her clung in all the right places, just like he’d hoped. “I’m not mortal. Shifters heal fast.” He considered her. “You have to feed every day? Daedalus doesn’t.”

“He’s a lot older than I am.” Her smile eased the sting of her sharp words.

“I know I’m breaking all kinds of rules by asking, but how old are you?”

Her smile faded a little. “It shouldn’t matter.”

“But it does. You seem a bit naive, but a word or phrase slips out that gives me a different impression. I just don’t want you playing me. If all you want is a good romp, that’s fine, but be straight about it.” Deep down, he discovered he really didn’t want a fling. His beast edged closer to the surface, listening intently to their conversation as if hanging onto their every word.

She stepped away and clutched her hands together. “I’m not playing games. I’m not that type of vampire.”

Sam swept her back into his arms. “Good.” And he meant it. He felt a little short of breath and giddy. Somewhere between a gunfight and eggs, he’d crossed the line into wanting more with this vampire female. Was he really ready to risk his heart again?

“I’m one hundred and seven years old.”

He swallowed with a dry throat. This shouldn’t be a surprise. He’d been expecting the age difference.

“That’s an average for most vampires. The stupid ones die younger.”

“But Daedalus takes care of you.”

“He saved me. My maker liked to cr-create whores for himself. Once he grew bored of me, I was placed up for sale. My existence would have been much different, much worse, if my–if Daedalus hadn’t purchased me. He let me remain sheltered as I wished. Never asking me to do th—things my maker wanted. Never asking me to do anything dangerous.”

Cupping her chin, he drew her face closer to his. “Until now.”

“He needed me. How could I have said no?”

“You’re the bravest female I’ve ever met.” She’d left the safety of her cozy job to risk her eternal life doing something she wasn’t trained for. The bastard of a Nosferatu shouldn’t have given her this task.

She licked her bottom lip as she glanced at his neck.

It sent his heart rate skyrocketing. He released her and turned on the shower before she changed her mind like she’d done in bed.

Steam filled the room. He spun around and groaned.

Clementine stood naked, her small, firm breasts waiting to be caressed. She set her dress on top of his pile of clean clothes, and then hooked a finger in his belt loop. “Aren’t you worried that I might corrupt you, young shifter?”

His cock hardened. “I’m game.”

“Kiss me.”

Without hesitation, he leaned over, brushing his mouth across the soft skin of her lips, and waited. Giving her every opportunity to change her mind and push him away. After what happened when she woke, he wanted her to be sure about being with him. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, her erect nipples gliding against his chest.

He ran his tongue along her lips until she opened her mouth. His touched hers for a moment before retreating. Another flickering touch and again, he coaxed her, persuaded her, finally to trace his tongue back into his mouth. Unable to resist, he moaned at her sensual rub, of the graze of her delicate fangs as she sucked on his tongue.

With a tug, she undid his shredded jeans and helped undress him. They staggered under the blast of hot water from the shower where she pinned him against the cold tiled wall with her supernatural strength.

He could have easily broken her hold, but she had this I’m-going-to-suck-your-cock-dry look in her eyes that kept him very, very still.

She knelt before him, never breaking eye contact. The water poured over her head, running in streams along her perfect pale skin, and plastering her short hair to her head. She appeared even younger, more innocent than before. Guiding one of his legs to the edge of the tub, she settled between his thighs and licked the drops of water off his balls.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. Oh God, those little licks were driving him crazy. He ran his hands over her head. Like silk, her hair slipped through his fingers. All the while she kept licking, sipping, and kissing all the important bits around his groin except the hardest, aching part. “Clementine.”

“Yes, Sam?” She pressed her fangs over the pulse point in his thigh.

A tremor of anticipation ran through his legs and he clutched the shower curtain rod to keep from sliding onto his ass. He didn’t know which he wanted more, her sucking on his dick or on his artery. Both would be ecstasy.

She moved forward and drew his cock into her mouth, manipulating the hard shaft with her tongue and lips. The edge of her fang caught on his tender foreskin. He growled at the burn but she soothed the nick by laving the blood away.

Leaning into the slippery wet walls, he rested his head against the corner of the shower. “Oh God. Yes.” The words came out strangled as he tried his best not to shout. The twins wouldn’t appreciate the noise, but the feel of Clementine sucking on his cock awoke the beast. It struggled against his control, trying to break free to claim her. He gasped and arched his back. “Shiiiiit.” The shift was almost upon him.

Waves of heat pounded from his insides and she slid him deeper with each stroke until her lips met the root of his shaft. Then she swallowed. All those fine, strong vampiric muscles in her throat constricted around him and she eased his cock out, caressing every inch of him, until he popped from between her lips.

He took a shuddering breath. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it. “Holy Toledo.” If she did that again, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. With a mind of their own, his hands helped Clementine back to her feet.

“Didn’t you like it?” She wiped the water from her eyes.

“Oh baby.” He swept her against the wall, guiding her legs around his waist, and pressed his tip at the entrance to her wet pussy. “I’m going to show you how much I liked it.” Swooping his mouth onto hers, he ravaged the inside with such a hunger that she sagged against him. He tore away from the kiss long enough to hear her speak one word.

“More.”

It barely left her lips before he kissed her again, rubbing the tip of his cock over that sensitive, delicious bud. The friction made his balls clench tight. He’d never wanted a female more, but he only swept the outside of her pussy before pulling away and doing it again. Matching his tongue to his body, he stroked the inside of her mouth until she writhed against him.

She dug her nails into his ass and drove his cock partway inside.

The unexpected pleasure tore a groan from deep inside his chest. He reached down and flattened his palm against her back, moving lower until his hands cupped her hips, drawing her even closer so he rubbed on her with his movements. Easing inside of her with a small thrust, he clenched his teeth at the piercing, primal desire pulsating within his groin.

Incomprehensible words escaped her lips. Their heartening tones and her clenching hands encouraged him to pick up the pace. Her pussy clenched around his hard shaft, winding tighter with each firm stroke, until his body burned with a single belief.

“Mine…”

It was a declaration of pure possession that his rational mind couldn’t believe he’d made.

She grasped his hair and yanked his head back. “Fuck yes, I’m yours.” Then she pierced his carotid with her fangs, drawing his blood in greedy gulps.

The weakness in his knees didn’t come from blood loss, but the shards of pure ecstasy that kicked into his lower back and spread into his groin. It erupted through the tip of his cock as he spilled his seed inside of her.

Her muffled cries joined his as she rocked her hips and clutched him close.

The previous urgent fire was replaced with a cozy euphoric high. His knees buckled and they slid down the wall together as he continued to pound into Clementine. That far-off roaring turned out to be his. The ache in his loins was satisfied and, from Clementine’s limp body pressed over his, he’d say her hungers were too.

The shower water grew cooler and she finally raised her head from his shoulder.

He brushed the curls from her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

She gave him that shy smile he was beginning to cherish. “So are you.”